A Florida man who built an online empire stealing cryptocurrency and leaking unreleased songs from some of music’s biggest stars has been sentenced to 10 years in federal prison.
Noah Michael Urban, 20, of Palm Coast, was known online as “King Bob” — a name that became infamous in both the cybercrime world and hip-hop community. On Wednesday, Aug. 21, U.S. District Judge Harvey Schlesinger handed down the sentence in Jacksonville after Urban pleaded guilty earlier this year to wire fraud, conspiracy and aggravated identity theft.
Urban wasn’t just a hacker. He was also a central figure in the underground music-leaking scene, where fans would pool money online to buy unreleased tracks. At one point, he bragged about having more than 2,000 songs from superstar artists including Playboi Carti, Lil Uzi Vert, Ariana Grande and the late Juice WRLD.
His leaks caused waves in the industry. One Playboi Carti track reportedly sold for $30,000. And in September 2023, Ariana Grande herself spoke out after one of her demos appeared online, writing on social media: “this is so disheartening … please please stop.”
At the same time, prosecutors say Urban was a key member of Scattered Spider — a cybercrime group made up of mostly teens and young adults in the U.S. and U.K. The hackers became known for targeting phone companies with “SIM-swapping” attacks, which let them hijack phone numbers to bypass security and drain cryptocurrency accounts.
The group made headlines in 2023 for crippling MGM Resorts International and Caesars Entertainment, shutting down hotel check-ins, slot machines and even digital room keys. Caesars reportedly paid a $15 million ransom. MGM chose to fight back.
According to prosecutors, Urban’s crimes stretched far beyond music leaks. Between 2021 and 2023, investigators say he caused between $9.5 million and $25 million in losses. During a raid in March 2023, agents seized nearly $2.9 million in cryptocurrency from his computer — which later rose in value to $3.67 million. He also forfeited cash, luxury watches and jewelry.
Urban admitted in interviews that he made “several million dollars” but claimed he lost much of it gambling online.
Prosecutors had asked for eight years and Urban’s defense attorneys argued for five. Judge Schlesinger imposed the maximum sentence available: 10 years, plus $13 million in restitution to 59 victims.
The judge’s tough stance, Urban later claimed on social media, may have been influenced by another Scattered Spider member hacking a judge’s personal email during the proceedings.
Urban’s sentencing is the first major conviction of a Scattered Spider member, but authorities warn the group is still active — and still a threat.
For the music industry, Urban’s arrest may mean the end of one of the most disruptive leak operations in recent memory. Artists like Grande, Carti and Juice WRLD were forced to deal with stolen songs circulating online before they could even decide whether to release them.
At just 20 years old, Urban’s downfall shows how quickly an online double life can spiral out of control. From hacking Vegas casinos to leaking pop megahits, “King Bob” lived on the digital edge — until the law finally caught up with him.
